VIA Metropolitan Transit in San Antonio reported a 10.1% increase in fixed-route bus ridership from January through August 2026 compared with the same period in 2025, according to the latest Federal Transit Administration (FTA) data.

The increase was more than twice the 3.8% growth Houston METRO reported during the same period. Meanwhile, ridership declined 4.5% at CapMetro in Austin and 5.3% at Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART). Nationally, bus ridership increased 0.1%.

“This growth puts our region alongside the largest and fastest-growing transit markets in the country. Our region is growing, and our job is to turn that growth into access,” said VIA Board Chair Laura Cabanilla. “By implementing the Better Bus Plan with focus and urgency, we're connecting more people to jobs, education and healthcare, and we'll keep building the frequent, reliable network that helps businesses and communities thrive.”

Ridership Growth Extends Beyond 2026

VIA's ridership increases extend beyond the first eight months of 2026.

From January 2025 through August 2026, fixed-route bus ridership rose 5.3% from the previous 20-month period, exceeding the national bus ridership growth rate of 3.4%.

VIA and Houston METRO were the only two of Texas' four largest transit systems to report ridership increases during that period.

“There’s nothing more satisfying than watching a plan come together on the street,” said VIA President/CEO Jon Gary Herrera. “Our planners sequenced it, our operators delivered it, and San Antonio responded — more than two million additional rides since January, with growth every day of the week and big gains on weekends. That’s not luck. That’s execution. And every indicator we have says there’s more room to run.”

Better Bus Plan Expands Service

VIA attributed much of its 2026 ridership growth to implementation of its Better Bus Plan, which focuses on improving service frequency, speed, and reliability through changes informed by customer feedback and ridership data.

The agency has also reported growth in its VIA Link on-demand service, which is approaching 2.5 million rides since launching in 2019. VIA Link Southeast, the system's newest service zone, has exceeded ridership projections by 88% during its first year.

As part of the Better Bus Plan, VIA has expanded service frequency on routes identified as priorities based on customer needs. The percentage of its network operating every 30 minutes or better increased from 46% in January 2025 to 80% in August 2026.

Weekend ridership has also increased, with growth rates two to three times those recorded on weekdays. VIA has focused some service improvements on supporting workers in the hospitality, healthcare, and retail sectors.

Future Service Investments

VIA plans additional service improvements, including the introduction of the region's first Advanced Rapid Transit (ART) lines, VIA Rapid Green and Silver.

The ART projects will include infrastructure improvements along the corridors designed to improve transit speed, accessibility, and safety while supporting connections to employment and other destinations.

The Green Line is scheduled to begin service in April 2028, followed by the Silver Line in 2031.

VIA has also expanded its full-time operator workforce to support additional service. The number of operators increased from 799 in December 2024 to 1,021 in September 2026, the highest level in the agency's nearly 50-year history.